Striking mechanism for time-clocks



J. A. OSTROWSKI.

STRIKING MECHANISM FOR TIME CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1920.

1,361,093. Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

JOSEPH A. OSFIBOWSKI, OI MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

STRIKING MECHANISM FOR TIME-CLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Application filed larch 17, 1920. Serial No. 886,562.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josarn A. OsrRowsin, a citizen of Poland, but with declared intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Striking Mechanism for Time-Clocks; and I do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description t iereof, such as will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing for an illustration of one construction I in which my invention has been embodied.

The invention relates to striking mechanism forv time clocks.

My invention simplifies and materially cheapens the construction of the striking mechanism of a clock, in that I use a single spiral spring as the motive power for the clock, instead of two of such springs, as in modern clock construction. But the invention is applicable also to clocks in which weights are used as the motive power.

I mount the usual striking wheel so as to rotate freely upon the sleeved staff of the hour hand, and connect such wheel to a pro jection upon the said stafi, by means of an auxiliar spiral spring which carries a reserve 0 initial tension, and which is increased in a slight measure by the rotation of the staff of the hour hand while the striking wheel is maintained inits position of rest between the striking periods.

When the moment for the clock to strike has arrived, the holding detent is released from its engagement with the striking wheel, and the energy stored in the auxiliary spiral spring will set the striklng wheel in rotation, the movement of the latter being governed by a vibrating escapement, or a rotating fan, as is usual in striking clocks. The train of mechanism for releasing the holdin detent from its engagement with the stri ing wheel maybe of the ordinary construction, and being well known need not be specifically described in the resent connection.

' The invention also comprises a feature of adjustability, whereby the oscillations of the escapement may be varied so that regulation may be effected in the time of the striking mechanism, rendering such timefast or slow, as may be desired.

In the drawings which form a partof thisspecification,

Figure'l is a conventional view of a clock of ord1nary construction, the face thereof being broken out so as to show the arrangement of my simplified striking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, somewhat enlar ed, showing the holding detent as release from its retaining notch in the strikmg wheel, and, as passing over the teeth thereof while the clock is strikin Fig. 3 is a conventional-showing of the devices which control and free for operation the striking wheel.

In the dr awings I have shown a clock case and indicated the location of the works therein. One of the plates supporting the works of the clock is indicated by the letter A. The staff for the minute hand is indicated by the letter B, and the sleeved staff for the hour hand by the letter C.

Upon the sleeved staff for the hour hand, I mount so as to\ rotate loosely, a striking wheel D, which is retained in its osition of rest between the striking periods by means of a pivoted detent d,the point al of which is adapted to be seated in the notches d which latter are cut radially into the periphery of the striking wheel D. The detent d is carried by a pin d which is mounted so as to have a rocking movement in the supporting-plates of the clock mechanism, and from the said pin extends a stop (8* adapted to rest upon the top of one of the plates, and thus limit the entrance of the detent into the notches of the striking wheel.

The detent may be released at the proper time from engagement with the notches of the striking wheel by any of the usual mech anisms employed for that purpose, all of which are well known toclock makers, and need not be further described herein. a

The teeth d on the periphery of the striking wheel are engaged by a pinion 01" formed with the escapement wheel 'd. The escapement E cooperates with the escapement wheel a? torelease the striking wheel for retarded movement at the proper time.

The sleeve staif C is provided with a radial the sleeved staff C, and inasmuch as the escapement wheel is held against rotation by the detent d, the rotation of the sleeved staff 0 will put the spring 0 under tension, so that when the detent is raised out of its engagement .in one of the holding notches in the striking wheel D the latter will have a tendenc to rotate, and thus permit the vibratin hammer of the clock to strike the gong. I do not depend u on the energy stored in the spring 0 to e eat the strikin of the clock, but in assembling theparts I put. the sprlng 0 under an initial tension by winding such spring in a slight degree.

This tension will var according, to the peripheral travel of t e striking wheel D, but will be maintained, and will always be sufficient to actuate the striking wheel to, effectively strike the maximum number of times desired in the time cycle of the clock..;

I have shown the escapement as provided with an extended finger 6 formed as alight wire along which may be moved a light weight e for the purpose of regulating the fast or slow operation of the esca ment and so control the time within wh1ch the clock may complete its periodical strike.

But instead of the controlling mechanism described, I may employ a rotating fanof usual construction. 7

While I have shown the striking-wheel and its controlling mechanism as arranged at the front side of the clock mechanism, it will be understood that .it is not material to the invention that-the strikin wheel be so arranged but that it may be p aced at the-rear of the mechanism if desired.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a striking mechanism for clocks, a striking wheel mounted to rotate upon the sleeved staff of the hour hand, a detent to restrain the striking wheel from rotation during the movement of the hour hand, and a spring connection between the said staff and the striking wheel to rotate the latter when the detent is raised.

2. In a striking mechanism for clocks, a striking wheel mounted to rotate loosely upon the sleeved staff of the hour hand, a

strikin striking1 detent for restraining the rotation of the striking wheel during the rotation of the striking wheel during the rotation of the sleeved staff, and connections between the sleeved staff and the strikin wheel to actuate the latter when release b the detent. 4. In a striking mechanism fhrclocks, a

wheel mounted to. rotate loosely upon t e sleeved staff of the hour hand, a

detent for restraining the striking wheel against movement during the rotation of the sleeved staff, connection between the wheel mounted to rotate loosely sleeved staff and the striking wheel to rotate the latter. when released by the detent, and escapement mechanism for retarding the movement of the striking wheel;

5. In a striking mechanism for clocks, a v wheel mounted to rotate loosely upon t e sleeved staff of the hour hand, a detent for restraining the striking wheel against movement during the rotation of the sleeved staff, connections between the sleeved staff and the striking wheel to rotate the'latter when released by the detent, escapement mechanism for retarding the movement of the strikingwheel, and adjustable devices for varying the time of the oscillations of the escapement.

6. In a striking mechanism for clocks, a striking wheel actuated from the sleeved staff of the hour hand, a detent for restraining the striking wheel from rotation during the movement of the hour hand, and a spring connection between the said staff and the striking wheel to rotate the latter when the detent is raised.

In testimony whereof I have signed my w. F. weoLARD, ,O. C. WEBER. 

